christman



pr 1929. P. J. CHRISTMAN, JR 1,708,534

NAPKIN FOLDING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ap 9, 1929' P. .J. CHRISTMANILIR 1,708,534

NAPKIN FOLDING MACHINE Filed April 19,, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\IIm W p i .2 F P. J. cHR|sTMAN, JR 7 3,534

NAPKIN FOLDING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 3 O Q Patented Apr. 9, 19290 PETER JOSEPH' CHRIST MAN, JR., OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

NAPKIN-FOLDING IIVJIACI-IINE.

Application filed April 19, 1926. SerialNo. 102,971.

This invention relates to paper folding machines, and is particularly directed to a machine for folding paper napkins.

Objects of this invention are to provide a machine which will fold napkins so that they may be supplied to the trade without further folding, as for example, a machine which will take a quarter folded napkin and fold the ends over so that it is in a form for immediate use.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of paper folding machine which will fold the napkin in any desired manner, and which employs a magazine for determining the ultimate shape of the folded'napkin, so that the magazine cooperates with the folding mechanism somewhat in the manner of a former.

Most specifically, this invention has for its object the provision of a magazine for temporarily holding the napkin, and also into which they may be plunged or pressed to secure their initial folding, and in which means are provided. for holding the napkins in stacked formation so that they may be most easily handled and removed from the machine.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a'sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail of the cam and segmental gear which operates the tuckers, such figure being a section on the line 3-8 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a View looking at the front end of the magazine showing the manner in which the napkin is passed to such point.

Figures 5 to 9 show diagrammatically successive stages of the folding operation showing the active or working parts of the machine in their relative positions.

Figure 10 shows the form in which the napkin is folded in the machine.

Figure 11 shows a further form which the folded napkin may take. y

This machine is intended to receive the napkinsas they come from the quarter fold machine, and for this purpose, a pair of drums or pulleys 1 and 2 are provided over which belts 3 and a pass. The lower ends of these belts are carried by pulleys 5 and 6 as shown in Figure 1. From reference to Figure 4, it will be seen that each of the drums 1 and 2v carry a pair of belts, the

belts a showing in Figure 1. These belts receive the napkin A between them as most clearly shown in Figure 4, and carry the napkin downwardly in front of the mega zine 7. This magazine is shaped, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, so as to produce the napkin folded in the manner indicated in Figure 10. However, it is obvious that the shape of the magazine can be changed to produce other forms of folded napkins, such for instance, as that shown in Figure 11. v

The magazine 7 is preferably horizontal as shown, while the carrying stretches of the belts 3 and 4 are arranged vertically. Thus, it will be seen that the quarter folded napkin is caught at its edges by the belts 3 and 4; and carried in front of the magazine 7.

Immediately opposite the magazine 7, a plunger 8 is positioned and is carried by a plunger rod 9. This plunger conforms to the contour of the magazine, but is of slightly less dimensions than the interior dimension of such magazine so that it may push the napkin into the magazine and may be retracted freely. The rod 9 is carried by a slide 10 of any suitable construction, which in turn, is slidably held by the guides 11. This slide is reciprocated by suitable mechanism. For example, it may carry a pin 12 which operates inthe slotted arm 13 of a bell crank lever. The other end of the lever, as indicated at 14, is carried by means of the pitman 15 connected with a crank pin 16 carried by the drum 1 so that the plunger 8 is periodically moved into the magazine 7 as the drum 1 rotates.

This plunger 8, as may be seen most readily from Figure 5, is provided with forwardly turned flanges 17 which engage the napkin A. Further, it will be noted from such figure, that the forward ends 7 of the magazine '7 are outwardly turned to facilitate entrance of the plunger and of the napkin.

This magazine is provided with apertures 18 on opposite sides thereof through which the tuckers 19 and 20 may pass. These tuckers are carried by curved levers or arms 21 and 22 which are rigidly fastened to the shafts 23 and 2 1. Further, it will be noted, from Figures t to 9, that the magazine 7 is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting lips 25 and 26 which are in'turn provided with, apertures 2'? through which suction the shaft 31 which connects the drum 1. .For example, these shafts may be connected by means of the sprocket chain 32 so that they rotate in unison. f

Further, it is to be noted particularly from Figures 1, 2, and 3, that the shaft is provided with cams 33 and 34 which contact with rollers 35 carried bythe levers or cam followers 06 and 37. These cam followers are retracted by means of springs 38 as shown in Figure 3. The levers U6 and 37 carry at their upper ends, segmental *gears 39 and 40 respectively whichmesh with pinions 41 and 42 carried by the shafts 23 and 24. 1 The shaft 24 is provided with a pinion 42 which meshes with a pinion '42 on the shaft 24. The shafts 23 and 24, as previously described, carry the levers 21 and 22 which form partsof the tuckers 19 and 20 respectively.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The quarter foldednapkin is passed di-.'

rectly from the quarter folding machine of any suitable type between the rolls 1 and 2 and is carried by the belts 3 and4 in front of the magazine 7 The plun 8 is reciprocated into the magazine as shown in Figures 5 and 6. This folds the napkin intothe position shown in. Figure 6 with the corner tabs 43 and 44 sticking outwardly. It is toibe noted that the flanges l7 of the plunger 8 e0 operates with the magazine 7 to crease the napkin at this point and to make the initial fold. At about the time the plunger com- PlQtQS ItS forward stroke lnto the magazine,

suction is imparted to the apertures 27 of the lips 25 and 26 so that both of these sues tion lips hold the napkin in position while the plunger isretraeted. After the plunger has been retracted, the tucker 19 moves in- V wardly as shown in Figure 7 and folds the tab 43 inwardly. Upon continued motion of the tucker, the suction inthe lip-25 is cut off by the valve 29 and this folded end of the napkin is thus allowed to snap forwardly past the suction lip 25 into the position shown in Figure 8. Thereafter, the tucker 19 is retracted and the tucker 20 moves inwardly into the position shown in- Figure 9 thus forcing the other folded edge of the napkin past the suction lip 26. It is tofbe noted that as the tucker 20 passes the lip 26, that suction is cut off from the lip 26 and the napkin is allowed to snap past such suction lip. e V

The creasing of the napkin is thus com ing, of course,-

folded and carried by the magazine 7. This stack ofnapkins forces the napkins against the rear face of'the suction lips 25 and 26 and'also aidsin the creasing.

It is to be noted further that the napkins in their folded condition areprevented from sliding towards the mouth of; themagazine by the lips 25 and 26. As the stack of napkins increases they maybe readily withdrawn from the magazine. either by lifting them upwardly therefrom or by sliding them from the rear of the magazine dependupon the shape of the magazine. 7

.It will be seen that 1? mp 1111a serviceable folding machine has been provided in which a novel manner of folding is secured. v

It will be seen further that a very imple mechanism is provided by this invention which is eminently practical and which-may be cheaplymanufactured. i

It is apparent that any desired shape of folded napkin may be secured by this machine byv suitably shaping the magazine 7 and correspondingly arranging the tuckers'and' plunger.

It willbe seen further that thefolding mechanism consists of a very small number of parts although it is highly effective in operation.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is in tended as illustrativerather than limiting as the nvention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim: 1 i 1. In. a folding machine, the combination of a magazine contoured to the shape of the completely folded article, means for bringing a sheet in front. of such magazine, a plunger contoured similarly to the magazine for forcing such sheet directly into the magazine, whereby opposite portions of "the sheet will be bent right angles adjacent the inner sides of the magazine, and tuckers adapted to enter the magazine laterally for completmg the folding of the sheet, said tuckers subsequently passing longitudinally into the magazine; H I

2. Ina folding machine, the combination of delivery members for properly positioning a sheet, a magazine having an open mouth opposite the positioned sheet, a plunger for forcing such sheet into themagazine, said plunger having flanges for initially creasing the sheet, a pair of lips mounted Within the magazine and against which the successively folding opposite portions of the sheet is pressed by the plunger at the completlon of its inner stroke, and tuckers for sheet when positioned within the magazine and for forcing the resulting folded edges past said lips. I

3. In a napkin folding machine, the

combination of a magazine contoured to the shape of the folded napkin, a pair of suction lips projecting into said magazine, means for feeding a napkin in front of the magazine, a plunger for forcing the napkin into the magazine with its body portion in proximity to the suction lips, and a pair of tuckers adapted to successively enter the magazine laterally and to successively fold opposite portions of the napkin, said tuckers passing beyond the suction lips to position the folded napkin behind such suction lips.

4;. A napkin folding machine comprising a magazine, means for feeding the napkin in front of the mouth of the magazine, a pair of suction lips projecting into the mag azine and spaced inwardly from the mouth thereof, a rotary shaft, a pair of shafts driven by cams from said rotary shaft and located. adjacent the sides of the magazine, tuckers carried by said pair of shafts and adapted to successively enter the magazine, a plunger for forcing the napkin into the magazine and into proximity to the suction lips, and means operated by said rotary shaft for controlling the suction at said lips.

5. In a napkin folding machine, the combination of a magazine, means for feeding a napkin across the mouth of the magazine with portions of the napkin projecting beyond the outline of the magazine, a plunger adapted to force the napkin into the magazine with portion of the napkin lying adjacent the sides of the magazine, a pair of shafts paralleling the sides of the magazine, tuckers carried by said shafts and adapted to enter the magazine, a rotary shaft having cams thereon, segmental gears operated by said cams for controlling the motion of said first mentioned shaft, valves operated by said rotary shaft, suction means for temporarily holding said napkin mounted within said -magazine and controlled by said valves, whereby said napkin is plunged into said magazine by said plunger and is held while said tuckers operate to complete the folding thereof.

6. In a folding machine, the combination of a magazine contoured to the shape of the completely folded article, means for bringing a sheet in front of such magazine, a plunger similarly contoured to the magazine for forcing such sheet directly into the magazine whereby opposite portions of the sheet will be bent at right angles adjacent the inner side of the magazine, and tuckers adapted to enter the magazine and to follow in the general direction of the articles in the magazine for completing the folding of the sheet. 7. In a folding machine, the combination of ,a magazine, contoured to the shape of the completely folded article, means for bringing a sheet in front of such magazine, a plunger similarly contoured to the magazine for forcing such sheet directly into the magazine whereby opposite portions of the sheet will be bent at right angles adjacent the inner side of the magazine, tuckers normally positioned out of the path of movement of said plunger, and means for forcing said tuckers into the magazine after the withdrawal of the plunger for completing the folding of the sheet and for pressing the opposite portions of the sheet into the magazine against the body portion of the sheet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of VVisconsin.

PETER JOSEPH OHRISTMAN, J 1:. 

